Tire tread gauge using visual indicator

Abstract

An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery includes a Kelvin connection configured to electrically couple to the storage battery and a microprocessor configured to determine a dynamic parameter of the storage battery. A forcing function source is configured to apply a forcing function signal to the storage battery through the Kelvin connection. A sensor is electrically coupled to the storage battery and configured to sense an electrical response of the storage battery to the applied forcing function signal. A tire tread gauge is arranged to be inserted into a tread of a tire. The tire tread gauge including a visual indicator. An image capture device is configured to capture an image of the tire tread gauge when the tire tread gauge is inserted into the tread of the tire.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic battery tester for testing a storage battery comprising:
 a Kelvin connection configured to electrically couple to the storage battery of a vehicle; 
 a microprocessor configured to determine a dynamic parameter of the storage battery; 
 a forcing function source configured to apply a forcing function signal to the storage battery through the Kelvin connection; 
 a sensor electrically coupled to the storage battery and configured to sense an electrical response of the storage battery to the applied forcing function signal; 
 a tire tread gauge arranged to be inserted into a tread of a tire of the vehicle, the tire tread gauge including a visual indicator indicative of a depth; and 
 an image capture device configured to capture an image of the tire tread gauge when the tire tread gauge is inserted into a tread of a tire; 
 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to determine a tire tread depth based upon an image of the tire gauge when the tire gauge is inserted into the tread of the tire based upon the captured image of the visual indicator indicative of the depth. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tire tread gauge is spaced apart from the microprocessor. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tire tread gauge includes a tire pressure sensor. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1  including an output configured to send data to a printer. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1  including a user input is configured to receive information identifying the tire undergoing testing. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1  including a database configured to couple to the electronic battery tester. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the tire tread gauge includes a display configured to prompt an operator to test a specific tire of the vehicle. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1  including an input configured to receive information related to tire pressure specifications for the vehicle. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a measured tire parameter is sent to a point of sale device. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1  including a display configured to display information related to tire tread depth. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the image is stored in a memory. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the image is transmitted to a remote location. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of images are collected. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of images are stored in a memory and used for auditing purposes. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the visual indicator comprises a plurality of different colors. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 1  including an output which provides an indication of remaining tire life based upon the captured image. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 1  including an input configured to receive information related to the vehicle and an output related to tire condition based upon the captured image and the received information. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tire tread gauge includes a tire temperature sensor. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein a pressure measurement of the tire is adjusted based upon the tire temperature. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tire tread gauge includes a receiver configured to receive tire pressure data from a pressure sensor coupled to the tire of the vehicle. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the receiver is configured to receive tire pressure data over a wireless connection. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the tire tread gauge includes memory to store data. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 22  including an output configured to output data stored in the tire tread gauge memory. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the microprocessor uses the plurality of images to identify when the tire tread gauge has been placed into the tire tread. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the microprocessor identifies a time when a change between two or more images is indicative of the tire tread gauge not moving and that it has been completely inserted into the tire tread. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the image capture device is further configured to capture an image of a sidewall of the tire and responsively identify tire parameters. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of  claim 26  including an output which provides information related to a condition of the tire based upon the captured image and the identified tire parameters.